Mumbai, 18 January 2004 - "They can cut all the flowers, but they cannot stop the coming of spring." Thus quoted moderator Kamla Bhasin, a respected feminist leader and theoretician, as she described what globalisation forces are up against. The quote from Pablo Neruda aptly underscores the strength of the struggle of women's movements across the globe, as evident in the numbers that gathered here for the anti-globalisation conference at the World Social Forum (WSF) 2004.

Mumbai, 20 January 2004 - On 29 March 2001, 18-year old Naang Shwe (not her real name) was tending the cows in their family farm when she was spotted by State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) troops patrolling the Nong Tao village in Larng Kher township in the Northeastern Burmese state of Shan. SPDC Captain Soe Nyint, leader of'Company 4 of LIB 5252 assigned to the area, called Naang Shwe. When she approached, he grabbed and raped her. Naang Shwe cried and shouted for mercy but the Captain and his troops did not take pity on her.

Mumbai, 20 January 2004 - "We want a safe Forum! Now! We want a safe Forum! Now!" These were the cries of women that resonated around the NESCO grounds in Goregaon, Mumbai, site of the ongoing World Social Forum (WSF) at noon today. Belonging to different women's organisations taking part in the WSF, the women denounced the rape of a South African woman delegate in the ongoing Forum.

Mumbai, 16 January 2004 - Participants comprising 160 women from all over the globe recently concluded a historic strategising meeting dubbed as "Feminist Dialogues: Building Solidarities" in Mumbai, India.

Feminist Dialogues is "an attempt to transnationalise feminist debates and visions" as well to serve as a space for "an ethical dialogue among feminist organisations and. women from progressive groups and movements on the challenges and issues facing global women's movements." The dialogues also examined "the inter-linkages between the feminist movements and other social movements and advocacy groups involved in human rights struggles, including sexual and reproductive rights, social equality, peoples' development, environmental and economic justice and gender justice."

Mumbai, 16 January 2004 -They concluded with more questions than answers. However, participants to "Beyond the Local-Global Divide: Resistances in Current Geopolitics"-the final session of the International Feminist Dialogues-did not seem to mind. As a matter of fact, they stressed the need to ask crucial questions at this point, when the women's movement is examining the different facets of feminist organising.

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Research Report, Women and Peacebuilding, Philippines

Recognising Women’s Participation in Sustainable and Lasting Peace. Isis International realised it is essential to initially find out to what extent or if any at all do peace advocates include or consider women and gender in their peace work with from ICCO foundation, Isis carried out a study on women peacemakers in the Philippines.

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